Plants In Space STEM Engineering Design Challenge | Engineering Our Cosmos

Plants in Space Middle School STEM Unit

In this hands-on challenge, students design and build a device to support a homemade greenhouse, incorporating a method to deliver light using reflection. Inspired by Matthew Mickens, NASA plant scientist, who studies how to grow crops in space with no sunlight, soil or gravity students will design a plant growing system that works inside a lava tube.

This unit combines engineering, physical science, and life science in an engaging design challenge. Drawing on what scientists have learned from growing plants in space, students apply the engineering design process to develop innovative solutions. The challenge highlights key science concepts such as photosynthesis and the properties of light reflection.

Engineering Our Cosmos Storyline (Adaptable for Grades 6 - 8): Humanity has long looked to the stars with wonder. Now, we stand at the dawn of a new era, where engineers will lead the way to other worlds. Your mission: design the tools, technologies, and systems that enable human exploration and survival beyond Earth. Each challenge brings us closer to life among the stars—and drives innovations that improve life here on Earth. It’s time to start Engineering Our Cosmos!

A Mission to Grow Plants in Space: In this unit, students will learn about NASA plant scientist Dr. Matthew Mickens. To live on the moon, we need more than rockets. We need food. Oxygen. Sustainability. Before humans can thrive beyond Earth, we have to learn how to grow life in space, and that mission is already underway, thanks to scientists like Dr. Matthew Mickens, a NASA plant researcher focused on the future of space farming.

As a Black scientist in a field where diversity is still growing, he is deeply committed to mentorship as he started himself as a NASA Intern. He often speaks to students and aspiring scientists, sharing not only his research but the story behind it — a story of curiosity, perseverance, and belief in possibility. Whether in a lab on Earth or designing the farms of the future on another planet, Dr. Matthew Mickens is helping to grow more than just food. He’s growing the foundation for humanity’s future in space.

Engineering Learning Goals in this unit include:

• Real-World Connections: Learn about lunar lava tubes, the challenges of living on the moon, and the challenges of growing plants in space and on the moon.

• Making: Use materials to build a greenhouse, to build a plant growing system to hold the greenhouse, and to reflect light on the greenhouse. Re-design based on testing data.

• Habits of Mind: Work as a team to build a design that solves a problem and communicate ideas and provide feedback to peers.

• Science: Build a greenhouse that includes what plants need to grow, understand the property of reflection and then be able to use the property to get light to their greenhouse.

• Technology: Learn about the technology of growing plants in space and about the careers related to growing plants in space.

• Math: Use observations to make informed design changes, solve addition and division problems related to the project, and use data tables and graphs.

Included in this product:

• Aligned to: NGSS, TEKS, and ITEEA Standards

• Complete Teacher Guide following the engineering design process

• Materials list and activity suggestions

• Editable teaching slides

• Editable student handouts for each phase of the design process, including science background, STEM career connection, information on Dr. Matthew Mickens, and more!

• Mission report and badges

Recommended Supplies:

Materials for Building Greenhouse:

• Resealable sandwich bag

• Cotton balls

• Seeds* such as vegetable or flower seeds, dried beans (must soak at least 1 hour), or popcorn kernels

• Tap water

Materials for Building Plant Growing System Device:

• Scissors and Tape

• 2 Paper cups

• 6 Bendy straws

• 4 Pieces of construction paper

• Cardboard

• Craft sticks

• Mirrors or reflective material

• Laser pointer

2021 Science TEKS Standards Alignment (Texas)

• Practices: 1A/B/D/E/F/G, 2A/B/C/D, 3A/B, 4A/B/C

• Content: 6.12-B, 7.6C, 7.12B, 8.6C, 8.6E, 8.11B, 8.13B